plumber

[ pluhm-er ]

/ ˈplʌm ər /

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See synonyms for plumber on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who installs and repairs piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with the water supply, drainage systems, etc., both in and out of buildings.

Slang. an undercover operative or spy hired to detect or stop leaks of news or secret information, often using questionable or illegal methods, as illegal entry or wiretapping.

Obsolete. a worker in lead or similar metals.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of plumber

1375–1425; 1965–70 for def. 2; late Middle English, spelling variant of Middle English plowber ≪ Late Latin plumbārius leadworker; replacing Middle English plummer<Anglo-French; Old French plummier<Latin, as above. See plumb, -er²

Words nearby plumber

plumbaginaceous, plumbaginous, plumbago, plumb bob, plumbeous, plumber, plumber's helper, plumber's snake, plumbery, plumbic, Plumbicon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use plumber in a sentence

I had to call a plumber to come and take everything apart to retrieve it.
Hints From Heloise: Treasured stuffed animals need a bath|Heloise Heloise|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
You got those four things—don’t matter President, plumber, architect, singer—you got those four things, no one will click off.
'I Never Learned Anything by Talking.' Watch Larry King on the Art of the Interview and a Shifting Media Landscape|Olivia B. Waxman|January 23, 2021|Time
From there, they visit the plumber’s Facebook page and watch a few videos.
What can 129 million calls tell us about inbound marketing? A lot, it turns out|Sponsored Content: CallRail|December 21, 2020|Search Engine Land
For example, if the potential customer clicks on a local listing for a plumber, Google prompts the customer to confirm the service area and the type of service they’re looking for.
Your all-access guide to improving your Google search visibility|Sponsored Content: Surefire Local|September 23, 2020|Search Engine Land

I love talking to plumbers, to ranchers, to electrical workers.
Full Transcript: Tomi Lahren on ‘The Carlos Watson Show’|Daniel Malloy|August 31, 2020|Ozy
The NRA and Joe the Plumber view dead Americans as an acceptable loss so that they can have easy access to guns.
It’s Time to Think Big or Shut Up on Gun Control|Dean Obeidallah|June 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then there was the statement I saw this week from “Joe the Plumber.”
Joe the Plumber’s ‘Dead Kid’ Callousness|Erica Lafferty|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The same people who denounce expert opinion about movies or music will praise a skilled plumber or car mechanic.
The Smartest Book About Our Digital Age Was Published in 1929|Ted Gioia|January 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Anyone who has ever tried to get a plumber in Paris at that time of the year will know what I mean.
Simon de Pury: Visiting 16 Studios of Los Angeles’s Top Artists|Simon de Pury|August 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When a leak springs in her bathroom and she has to pay a kingly sum to the plumber, she Googles “how to get cash quick.”
The First Great Internet Novel|Lauren Elkin|July 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I used to think meanly of the plumber; but how he shines beside the politician!
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson
After much dickering and argument, the plumber consented to leave the old copper pump at the sink, in addition to the faucets.
The Idyl of Twin Fires|Walter Prichard Eaton
The other chambers, having fireplaces, I decided needed no further heat, though the plumber was mournfully skeptical.
The Idyl of Twin Fires|Walter Prichard Eaton
The man took him to a small but rather neat shop, plumber's, glazier's and painter's.
It Is Never Too Late to Mend|Charles Reade
When the water pipes connecting a range boiler become frozen, get a plumber and avoid an explosion of the water back.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for plumber

plumber

/ (ˈplʌmə) /

noun

a person who installs and repairs pipes, fixtures, etc, for water, drainage, and gas

Word Origin for plumber

C14: from Old French plommier worker in lead, from Late Latin plumbārius, from Latin plumbum lead

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

plumber

Origin of plumber

Words nearby plumber

Words related to plumber

How to use plumber in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for plumber

Word Origin for plumber